Life By Design

Life By Design

Lifestyle design is about looking at your life, deciding how you could be happier and then making the changes to ensure that happens.

This is not just about working online so that you can travel – this is about working in whatever way best suits the lifestyle you want to achieve.

We’ve been over the details and the concepts. Now it’s time to take action – and this cheat sheet will put you on the right track.

What do You Want?

The first thing you need to do is to decide what you want life to be like. This means deciding what you want, which can be hard.

So…

  • Forget conventional notions of ‘success’ – you can be successful on your own terms and this doesn’t have to be tied to your career
  • Stop waiting for retirement and reject the notion that you need to be ‘rich’ to live the life you want
  • Ask yourself what is taking up most of your time and taking most effort – what are the main ‘pain points’ in your daily life and how could you fix them?
  • Picture your ideal life – what are the key elements? A lack of stress? A big hose?
  • What would you ideally be?

Do it Now

Now it’s time to look at that perfect life you want and to ask yourself how you can make it happen right now. Stop working harder hoping to one day retire with enough money – at that point you’re old and won’t be able to fully appreciate your freedom.

Instead, look for the path of least resistance – even if it seems risky.

  • You can increase your income by starting a side project doing something you love
    • Or by renting out a room to students
    • Or by renting it out on AirBnB while you’re away
    • Or by walking dogs
    • Or by making your current income go further
      • By spending less
      • By moving to a poorer area
      • By moving to a smaller home
  • The perfect house might be your house with changes. Extend the property, get rid of clutter, invest in a beautiful, unique feature. Cut expenditure elsewhere.
  • Take mini holidays rather than just one big one. Take a sabbatical. Quit your job and find new work when you get back.
  • Quit your current job or reduce your hours/accept a demotion so that you can spend more time on the things you love
    • Get more time by reducing work outside of the office too – get a washing machine, hire a cleaner
    • Arrange flex-time or ask to work from home some days of the week

Working online is just one option – there are countless ways you can earn more money and gain more freedom.

Take the Plunge

Some of these things seem scary but are they scarier than the prospect of working in your current job forever and never achieving your dreams? Take the plunge.

There is never a good time. And as Tim Ferriss says, you should be asking for forgiveness, not for permission!

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